BANGALORE: Debutant director Renu Kumar has made a film, that when compared to most other Kannada movies is a refreshing break from the mundane plot. The movie is equipped with all the necessary entertainment elements it needs to make it click with its audience — drama, romance, action and patriotism. Another feather in the cap, is that the movie is not thankfully not very long. The 110 minutes are packed with enough juice to keep the viewer on the edge of their seats.It starts with a young Veerchandra Sagar, who is raised by his mother Hoovamma (Shruthi) to be a soldier like his father, who respected his country and fought for his motherland. Girish Karnad who plays the role of Captain Mirza Ismail is also an inspiration for the little boy. The plot moves on as the lad in Malnad, graduates, joins the army (when all his friends join Multi National Companies), gets married and leaves home to protect his country against terrorists at the India-Bangladesh border. Meanwhile, his wife gives birth to a baby boy (who is also destined to be a future soldier). Unfortunately Veerchandra is soon killed in combat. Hoovamma vows on her dead son’s body that her grandson will fulfil his dead father’s wishes. The film takes a critical look at the need for the younger generation to join the army, in order to have a strong military force for the growth of the country. The movie probably gets a little preachy. The director says, “It is a film for the country. It is set in the Malnad region because everyone should draw inspiration from these people who in huge numbers enrol themselves into the army.” However, one particular scene in the movie raises an eyebrow at the director’s true intent. The scene has two components being played out simultaneously — one where little Veerchandra stands in attention while the national anthem is being played, and the other politicians rallying in a jeep for their campaigning. The two elements contradict each other and as a result leave the audience a tad confused about what the director is actually trying to say. It raises a question about Kumar’s message to the public — when on one hand a future soldier stands in attention to pay his respect to the national song, on the other, politicians are seen bustling around in their jeeps to gather votes. The disparity between the reel and real life situation is left for the audience to judge for themselves.
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